Method of and apparatus for remedying a thread break



. 18, 1969 K. NIMTZ ETAL 3,478,504

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REMEDYING A THREAD BREAK Filed Jan. 15, 1968 .4 Sheets-Sheet 1 F jg 1 INVENTORS:

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Nov. 18, 1969 K. NlMTZ ETAL 3,473,504

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REMEDYING A THREAD BREAK Filed Jan. 15, 1968 .4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS: fins 44);

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Nov. 18, 1969 K. NIMTZ ETAL 3,478,504

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR REMEDYING A THREAD BREAK Filed Jan. 15. 1968 .4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVEN 7'0 R S f/bwliar/z- @J/n/ 75-4010 United States Patent 7 Int. Cl. D01h 13/26 7/02; D07b 3/02 U.S. Cl. 5734 22 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Method and apparatus for tying broken threads in a multispindle two-for-one twisting machine in which a carriage is provided which is self-propelled and which is moveable along the frame of the machine so as to align with pairs of bobbins between which a thread is broken. A thread break detector for each pair of bobbins in the machine stops the pertaining bobbins and calls on the carriage when a thread break occurs whereupon the carriage moves into position, draws the thread ends in by suction, ties the thread ends together, and ejects the tied thread so the bobbins pertaining to the tied thread can resume operation.

The present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for remedying a thread break. The economy of two-for-one twisting or spinning machines depends not only on reducing the time required for preparing such machines to a minimum but also on the time during which the machine has to be stopped in order to change the spindles and to remedy thread breaks.

Aside from the fact that machines have been suggested in which the exchange of all delivery bobbins and the winding-up bobbins is effected semi-automatically or fully automatically so as to make the preparatory work independent of the operator and to reduce the idling time of the machine, the idling time can additionally be reduced by caring for batches of machines successively so that the total servicing personnel can take care of the respective machine to be prepared.

Precisely under such conditions it is disadvantageous when additional personnel has to be available to remedy thread breaks on running spindles and thus to reduce the idling time between the preparing times to a minimum.

It is particularly important during night shifts and on non-ordinary working days to have personnel available for almost exclusively taking care of thread breaks, although it would be possible with longer uninterrupted running times of the machines to have the machines prepared during day times so that the respective personnel would not be needed for the night shift.

Experience has shown that breaks occur almost exclusively in the thread balloon. In such instances, the end of the thread coming from the delivery bobbin hangs out of the thread storage disc, whereas the other end is wound onto the winding-up bobbin.

In view of the above consideration, the automation of remedying thread breaks in the thread balloon in connection with spindles of two-for-one twisting machines or spinning machines is particularly important.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a method which will automate the remedying of thread breaks.

It is another object of this invention to provide a method of remedying a thread break according to which an automatically operable knotting or tying device is moved to the place where the break occurs and by further steps is caused to effect the tying of the thread ends.

3,478,504 Patented Nov. 18, 1969 "Ice It is still another object of this invention to provide an arrangement for carrying out an automatic thread tying operation at the place of the thread break.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 represents a partial section of a two-for-one twisting machine with a tying carriage in operation.

FIG. 2 is a partial section of a two-for-one twisting machine with so-called bobbin turn changer or spool rotation changer and with a knotting or tying carriage in operation.

FIG. 3 illustrates a section through the thread grasping deyice arranged in the suction conduit.

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line IVIV of FIG. 3.

:FIG. 5 illustrates a section through the tying carriage arresting device but on a scale somewhat larger than that of FIG. 2.

The present invention is characterized primarily in that, by an electric signal initiated by the thread break, a carriage equipped with tying means and driving means is moved at least along one of the machines to the affected spindle; where upon shutdown of said spindle, the broken thread end of the winding-up bobbin is wound back and together with that end of the' broken thread which hangs out of the spindle rotor is conveyed to the tying means, which latter ties, the same to the other thread end; whereupon the spindle and the winding-up bobbin are again started and the carriage is, with a delay relative to the restarting of the spindle, moved back to its starting position or to the next afiected spindle.

According to the present invention, the two ends of the broken thread may be pneumatically conveyed to the tying means whereby the possibility is created of moving the tying means on the thread path between spindle rotor and spindle winding-up bobbin as close as possible to the spindle rotor by pneumatically conveying the thread ends to the tying means.

The method according to the present invention may be practiced by a thread break eliminator which is characterized in that it comprises a carriage movable on rails along at least one machine. This carriage, approximately above the plane of the spindle rail, has a suction conduit with tying means. The suction conduit is connected to a suction blower of a carriage and is longitudinally slotted adjacent the spindle side. The said suction conduit with tying means has a lower suction opening approximately at the level of the thread storage disc of the spindle and also has an upper suction opening approximately below the winding-up bobbin. The winding-up bobbin has associated therewith a return winding roller movable against the winding-up bobbin and adapted together with the suction conduit to be adjusted toward the winding-up bobbin. I

A thread break eliminator according to the invention may be provided for servicing a plurality of machines on which it is displaceable on one side or on the other side of the machine and alongside the same. To this end, at the head end of rows of machines there may be provided reversing stations by means of which the carriage may on rails be conveyed to the affected spinning or twisting stations as soon as a disturbance has been indicated.

As mentioned above, the carriage, approximately above the plane of the spindle rail, has a suction conduit with tying means which is adapted to be conveyed to the spindles and is'connected to a suction blower of the carriage. This arrangement makes it possible to move the suction openings of the suction conduit by a displacement thereof toward the spindles within the range of the broken thread ends to draw said broken thread ends inwardly and to convey them to the tying means.

If the disturbance on the spindle, namely the thread break, has not yet initiated the stoppage of the spindle and/or the winding-up bobbin, it may be provided according to the present invention that the suction conduit when being fed toward the spindle will actuate the spindle brake and will release the same when the suction conduit is withdrawn from the spindle.

In view of the fact that the winding-up bobbin may under certain circumstances have fully wound up the broken thread end, the present invention suggests a turning back or unwinding roller which is adapted to be moved toward the winding-up bobbin. This unwinding roller will with the movement of the suction conduit toward the spindles get into contact with the winding-up bobbin and will bring about the unwinding or freeing of the thread end.

According to a further development of the present invention, the suction conduit and the driven unwinding roller may be mounted on a supporting frame which is hydraulically or pneumatically movable on the carriage toward or away from the spindle.

According to a further development of the invention, the lower end of the suction conduit may in a conduit mantle of the carriage be displaceable telescopically and after the tying operation has been completed, for purposes of interrupting the suction process, the suction mouth of the suction conduit may be adapted to be pressed against a bellows. This will assure that the suction blower may be arranged stationarily on the carriage while the suction conduit may be displaced toward the spindle by telescopically extending the connection of the suction conduit with the blower. At the same time the bellows will after completion of the tying operation make possible an interruption of the suction flow.

According to a further development of the invention, the suction blower may at the suction side be covered by a screen preceded by a fiber catching chamber so as to catch and collect fibers and thread ends drawn away by the suction blower. The caught threads and thread ends may be removed from the fiber catching chamber from time to time.

The feeding of the broken thread end which hangs out of the thread storage disc of a spindle may be made possible in conformity with the present invention by arranging a thread catching and withdrawing device at the level of the lower suction opening and on the side of the suction conduit. The said thread catching and withdrawing device guides the broken thread end into the conduit from where the thread end is pneumatically conveyed to the tying means.

More specifically, according to the invention, the thread catching and withdrawing device may be in the form of grasping bodies on opposite sides of the suction conduit and may be moved toward each other. At least one of said grasping bodies is drivable.

According to a modification of the invention, the thread grasping and withdrawing device may be formed by friction belts which are respectively tensioned about two rollers, said friction belts being adapted to be moved toward each other on opposite sides of the suction conduit. Of the said friction belts, at least one is adapted to be driven, while said friction belts are arranged on swingable yokes connected to the suction conduit and pivotable through the intervention of a gear or friction drive. At least one of said swingable yokes is movable by a hydraulically or pneumatically displaceable piston engaging the swingable yokes.

For purposes of grasping the broken thread end on the winding-up bobbin, the apparatus according to the invention may be so designed that it comprises a device which is mounted on the supporting frame and engages the winding-up bobbin and places the same onto the unwinding bobbin.

It is a well known fact that the winding-up bobbins are arranged in so-called bobbin frames in which the winding-up bobbins in conformity with the increasing diameter move upwardly while resting on a friction roller. Since, however, the winding-up bobbins rest on the side of the machine on a friction roller, the present invention provides the possibility'of pivoting the winding-up bobbin toward the front side of the machine back and forth and, more specifically, by means of a device supported by the supporting frame. This device pivots the bobbin frame and causes the winding-up bobbin to rest on the unwinding bobbin so that the winding-up bobbin is wound back and that under the effect of the suction in the suction conduit the broken thread end will be released.

More specifically, the free end of the pivoting lever of the pivoting rotor has linked thereto a pivotable slide the free end of which is formed into a hook. This hook is adapted to catch a pivot on the supporting yoke of the Winding-up bobbin so that, after engagement of the hook and with the return pivoting of the pivot slide, the supporting yoke will together with the winding-up bobbin be so pivoted that the winding-up bobbin rests on the unwinding roller and by the latter is rotated in a direction opposite to the winding up operation.

According to the present invention, the pivotable slide may by means of two pivot levers be displaced parallel to itself which in turn permits a favorable adaptation to the different diameters of the winding-up bobbin which may prevail in case of a thread break.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the unwinding roller, which is driven and is journalled at one end of a pivotable arm linked to the supporting frame, is by means of the piston of a stationary fluid pressure cylinder pivotable toward the winding-up bobbin, while an upper conduit section of the suction conduit is adapted during a pivoting of the unwinding roller to move out telescopically together with the latter.

This embodiment is particularly intended to be employed in case of two-for-one twisting machines with socalled turn changers. Machines of this general type have for each spindle a hydraulically or pneumatically operable slide which is displaceable in a supporting frame housing in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the machine. These slides have their free ends support bearing means for journalling rotatable columns therein. These rotatable columns are each equipped with a turning beam in which at both sides of the turning column there are respectively journalled the spindles, the whorls of which are located below the turning beam. While one of the spindles forms the operating spindle, the other spindle forms the reserve spindle, which by turning the turning column replaces the operating spindle when the yarn has been wound off from the operating spindle. In this way a full delivery bobbin will immediately occupy an operative position whereas after the last mentioned bobbin has started its rotation, the empty bobbin may be exchanged for a full delivery bobbin. This exchange operation does not interfere with the twisting operation. The particular advantage encountered in this connection consists in that the exchange may be effected at any desired time when the operator is not occupied anywhere else.

According to a further development of the present invention, the supporting frame may below the suction opening at the suction side of the conduit be provided with a chamber which adjacent the suction conduit is covered by a screen and is connected with a suction blower. This suction chamber has the purpose of catch-ing that quantity of thread in the suction conduit which the tying device no longer requires for the tying process after the tying device has caught the broken thread end. In this way an excessive thread quantity will be prevented from moving into the range of the tying means and interfering with the tying operation.

According to the invention, it may also be provided that all movements are controlled automatically by a program control mechanism arranged in the thread break eliminator. This may be effected, for instance, in such a way that a thread break by means of a thread break detector conveys an impulse to the thread break eliminator which latter initiates the movement of the thread break eliminator toward the spindle on which the thread is broken. When the thread break detector arrives at said last mentioned spindle, the carriage is stopped and the program control movements cause the supporting frame with the suction conduit and the unwinding roller to move toward the spindle. The thread ends are introduced into the suction conduit, are then tied by the tying means and are finally returned to the spinning or twisting station. The supporting frame then moves back to its starting position so that by means of a new impulse the carriage can be moved to the next thread break or may be returned to its starting position.

According to a further development of the invention, the finishing of the tying operation will through the intervention of the program control mechanism bring about the return of the suction conduit and the starting of the spindle and also the restarting of the winding-up bobbin at a delay with regard to the starting of the spindle.

For purposes of stopping the carriage at the thread break station, it may be provided according to the present invention that the motor which drives the thread break eliminator along the machine is adapted to be stopped by an optical signal at the spindle with the thread break. The optical signal may be initiated by a thread break detector.

However, it is also possible for the same purpose, that the motor which moves the thread break eliminator along the machine is stopped by a mechanical contact on the spindle with the break.

For purposes of stopping and restarting the motor of the thread break eliminator at the spindle with the thread break, it may be provided that for starting the motor which movesthe thread break eliminator, an arresting pivotable yoke may be swung and may actuate an electric switch in its pivoted position in which it is held against the thrust of a spring by a lever which is adapted to be released when the thread break eliminator moves onto the arresting pivotable yoke which is under spring pressure. When the pivotable lever is released, the electric switch is actuated and the motor for the thread break eliminator is stopped.

In this way the thread break detector cooperates with a control means which on one hand causes the thread break eliminator to move to the spindle with the thread break, whereas by a mechanical movement of the thread break eliminator onto the spindle with the thread break, the thread break eliminator is stopped.

According to still a further development of the present invention, it may be provided that the carriage is equipped with a device which moves the tied thread to its position of operation. The said device is also adapted to move the tied thread out of the suction conduit and to introduce the same into the thread guiding eye which is located axially above the spindle and determines the zenith point of the thread balloon.

The suction conduit may at the level of the thread conducting means-have a transverse slot through which a thread slide movable pneumatically or hydraulically by means of a piston rod returns the tied thread to its position of operation.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 shows the machine supporting frame 1 with a foot 2 of one machine section and also shows in section the spindle rail 8 connected to the platform 3 of the supporting frame I. Said spindle rail 8 is hollow and has arranged therein the whorl 5 pertaining to the spindle generally designated with the reference numeral 4. The whorls 5 of the spindles 4 of the machine are adapted to be engaged by tangential driving belt 6 which is guided by tension rollers 7 so as to engage the whorls 5. The rear side of the spindle rail 8 is closed by a flap 9 adapted to be swung outwardly so as to permit access to the interior of the spindle rail 8.

The spindle rotor of each spindle 4, which rotor primarily comprises the whorl 5 and the thread storage disc 11 supported thereby and comprising a rotatable overflow dish 12, is journalled in standard manner (not shown) in the bearing housing 10 connected to the spindle rail 8. The whorl 5 is located within the spindle rail 8, whereas the thread storage disc 11 and the rotatable overflow dish 12 are arranged above the spindle rail.

Above the dish 12 there extends the protective pot 13 of the spindle 4 which pot is fixedly connected to the bobbin carrier 14 and the hollow spindle shank 15 and is secured by magnetic force in customary manner against rotation together with the spindle rotor.

When the spindle 4 rotates, the thread 16 is in customary manner withdrawn upwardly from the delivery bobbin within the protective pot 13. The thread then passes into the upper end of the hollow spindle shank 15 and moves radially out of the thread storage disc 11 for which purpose said disc 11 is provided with radially directed thread guiding passages one of which, in conformity with FIG. 1, leads through the exit opening 17.

During the normal spinning or twisting operation, the thread 16 is pulled upwardly from the thread storage disc 11 so as to circulate in the form of a balloon around the protective pot 13. The thread then passes through the thread guiding member 18 which is located above the hollow spindle shank or shaft 15 and which is designed as thread break detector. Subsequently, the thread passes over the advance roller 19, the transverse thread guide 20 and passes to the friction roller 21 on which the winding-up bobbin rests and is rotated.

The creel 23 supporting the winding-up bobbin 22 is supported by a hollow beam 24 of, for instance, a square cross section which extends along the machine. The creel 23 comprises supports 25 having linked thereto the supporting yokes 26 of the creel 23 for the receiving or winding-up bobbins 22. The yokes 26 are pivotable upwardly with increasing diameter of the delivery bobbin and are adapted to be pivoted by approximately In this turned position, a return winding up of the the wound up thread will be possible. Such return winding up serves the purpose of winding a certain thread length off the winding-up bobbin 22 when a thread break occurs in order thus to be able to tie that thread end which engages the winding-up bobbin 22 to that thread end which hangs freely out of the storage disc 11.

This tying operation is effected by the thread break eliminator which is movable along the machine and which henceforth will be designated as tie carriage. This tie carriage is so designed that it is movable along one machine side of one or more serially arranged machines and will come to a standstill at that spindle where a thread break occurred and a tying operation has become necessary.

According to the particular embodiment shown in the drawing, the tie carriage is suspended directly on the machine supporting frame 1 and is movable alongside the same. To this end, the frame 1 comprises individual consoles 27 having connected thereto an angle rail 28. The guiding wheels 29 of said tie carriage roll on the upper edge of the vertical leg of said rail 28, whereas supporting rollers 30 of the tie carriage rollingly engage the inner side of the vertical leg of rail 28. Below the consoles 27 on frame 1 there are respectively arranged additional consoles 31. The bottom side of said consoles 31 carries a rail 32 of angular cross section, the downwardly directed leg of which is engaged by additional supporting rollers 33 of the tie carriage.

Thus, the tie carriage rests in downward direction upon the vertical leg of rail 28 and is secured against lateral displacement by the supporting wheels 30 and 33. The tie carriage is equipped with a drive of its own which is formed by the motor 34, the output shaft 35 of which has connected thereto a sprocket wheel 36. The sprocket wheel 36 has looped therearound a chain 37 which also is looped around a sprocket wheel 38 connected to the output shaft 39 of the guiding wheel 29. Shaft 39 is journalled in supports 40 and 41 which are connected to the tie carriage housing generally designated 42. The housing 42 in addition to supporting the motor 34 also supports a compressor 43 and various control units to be described further below. The motor 34 may be an electric motor which is supplied with current by means of contact rails 44. These rails 44 extend along the machine and are connected to the frame 1 by means of rails 45.

The contact rails 44 and the current take off means 46 of the tie carriage are covered by a cover 47. The compressor serves for feeding different cylinders with pistons by means of which different displacements and turning movements of elements of the tie carriage are to be effected pneumatically.

Mounted on the tie carriage 42 is a supporting frame generally designated 48 which on that side which is adjacent to the machine comprises a suction conduit 49 with a wall 50 adjacent the machine.

The suction conduit 49 is at 51 at the level of the thread storage disc 11 of spindle 4 provided with a suction opening. Within the area of said suction opening the suction conduit extends toward the thread storage disc 11 of spindle 4. A further suction opening 52 is located at the upper end of the suction conduit 49. The lower end of the suction conduit 49 which forms the suction mouth leads into a chamber 53, the walls 54 of which have arranged therein and connected thereto a suction blower generally designated 55. The interruption of the suction operation is effected by a bellows 56 adapted to be pressed against the suction mouth of the suction conduit 49. The screen 57 which precedes the suction blower prevents a passage of threads or dust into the area of the suction blower 55 so that such threads and dust will collect on the bottom 58 of the screen 53. The bottom 58 is pivotable in downward direction as indicated by dash lines. This downward pivoting may be effected automatically by causing the bottom 58 and, more specifically, its roller 60 on an arm 59 to move onto a cam not illustrated which will automatically cause the bottom 58 to move into its opening position. In this way the chamber 53 will automatically be discharged at certain stations, especially at the head end of the machine. Mounted on the chamber 53 is an L-shaped profile body 61 which carries the housing 62 of a so-called ball guide. The splined shaft 63 journalled in the housing 62 is provided with grooves for the balls and rests on the housing 62 through the intervention of balls.

One free end of splined shaft 63 carries the above mentioned frame 48. The vertical leg of said body 61 has flanged thereto a pressure cylinder 64 with a piston 65, the free end of which engages the supporting frame 48. When piston 65 is axially moved outwardly to its end position, it displaces the supporting frame 48 toward the left to the position shown in dot-dash lines while the lower end of the suction conduit 49 telescopically moved in the conduit mantle 66. Ahead of said mantle 66, the tying means or knotter 67 engages the suction conduit 49. The said tying means or knotter may be of any standard design and is therefore illustrated only diagrammatically.

When the housing 48 is moved toward the left to the dot-dash position, and assuming that a thread is broken on its path between the thread storage disc 11 and the winding-up bobbin 22, the free thread end of the windingup bobbin 22 is following the return swinging of the winding-up bobbin 22 with the supporting arm 26 drawn into the suction conduit 49 through the suction opening 52, while at the same time the free thread end hangs out of the thread storage disc 11 and passes through the suction opening 51 into the suction conduit 49. The thread will be grasped by a gripping device which is generally designated with the reference numeral 68 in FIG. 1 and which is illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. This gripping device 68 for the thread comprises two friction belts 69 each of which encircles two rollers 70. The rollers 7 0 are symmetrically arranged with regard to the suction mouth 51 and are located on opposite sides of the central axis of the suction conduit 49 while being supported by arms 71 of swingable levers 72 which in their turn are respectively pivotally supported by pivots 73. Gear sectors or segments 74 respectively extend along a circle about the respective pivot 73 and form a part of the arms 72. The two gear segments 74 of arm 72 are in mesh with each other.

One of the arms 72 is additionally provided with a lever arm 75, the free end of which is pivotally connected to one end of a piston rod 76 connected to a piston (not shown) reciprocably arranged in cylinder 77. The cylinder 77 is pivotally connected to the suction conduit 49. When the lever arm 75 and thereby one arm 72 is pivoted byv movement of the piston rod 76 out of the cylinder 77, the arms 72 move toward each other until the friction belts 69 engage each other and grasp the free broken thread end which has entered the suction opening 51. At least one of the rollers 70 is driven, for instance, by means of a motor 78 (see FIG. 4). The friction belts 69 thus circulate correspondingly and pull the thread end into the suction conduit 49 into the reach of the tying means or knotter 67 by means of which one thread end is tied to the other thread end which has entered the suction conduit 49 through the suction opening 52 between the two suction openings 51 and 52. The suction conduit 49 is provided with a longitudinal slot 79 through which the tied thread is able again to move into its operative position outside the suction conduit 49.

The drawing in of the free thread end, which in case of a thread break has to be drawn from the winding-up bobbin 22 into the suction conduit 49, requires a reverse turning of the winding-up bobbin 22 in order to have a correspondingly long free thread end available which will be able to extend to the tying means or knotter 67.

For the reverse turning of the winding-up bobbin 22 in case of a thread break, the winding-up bobbin 22 is in a manner known per se lifted off the friction roller 21 and is pivoted. In this way the winding-up bobbin 22 comes to a standstill. At the same time the spindle rotor is stopped in the customary and standard manner. This stopping must be effected in such a way that the thread guiding passage of the thread storage disc 11 from which the thread end hangs out leads toward the tie carriage. To this end the spindle rotor is at the whorl 5 equipped with a magnet 80 having oppositely located a magnet 81 on the tie carriage so that the whorl 5 and thereby also the thread storage disc 11 will come to a standstill at the desired position. This, however, requires that the supporting frame 48 and consequently the suction conduit 49 of the tie carriage was advanced toward the spindle 4 to the dot-dash line position. In this way the suction conduit 49 with its abutting surface 157 has moved against the brake slide 158, the displacement of which actuates the spindle brake whereby the spindle rotor comes to a standstill in the position in which the opening 17 of the thread passage in the thread storage disc 11 is located opposite the suction opening 51. After the suction conduit 49 has been advanced, as will be described in detail later, the swinging rotataor 82 becomes effective which is well known and operates pneumatically. The housing of said rotator 82 is supported by a frame 48 through the intervention of a support 83. The rotator 82 which is driven by axially displaceable pistons (not shown) through the intervention of a rack (likewise not shown) turns the shaft 84 and thereby the lever 85 to which the rear end of the slide 86 is linked. The slide 86 is further linked to a lever 87 which pivots together with the shaft 88 journalled on support 83. This shaft 88 is turned by means of a chain '89 which encircles the two sprocket wheels 90 and 91 respectively connected to shaft 84 and shaft 88. Thus, shaft 88 carries out the same rotative movement as the shaft 84 which is turned by the rotator 82.

While the levers 85 and 87 are being pivoted and while the slide 86 is moved in view of the turning of shaft 84, the levers 85, 87 and the slide 86 occupy the positions indicated in dot-dash lines. When the yoke 26, which is provided on frame 23 and carries the winding-up bobbm 22, is pivoted back, the hook 92 at the free end of slide 86 grasps the pivot 93 of yoke 26 from below and thus pivots the winding-up bobbin 22 toward the tie carriage to such an extent that the winding-up bobbin 22 rests on the bobbin roller 94 by means of which the winding-up bobbin 22 is turned in reverse direction. During this reverse winding, the free end of the thread is reeled off and in view of the air suction passes through the opening 52 and suction conduit 49 to the tying means or knotter 67.

The roller 94 is driven by the sprocket wheel 95 engaged by a chain 96 which is driven by the sprocket wheel of the driving motor 97. The chain 96 is looped around the sprocket wheel 98, the lamella stripper roller 99, the lamellae of which are in engagement with the surface of the reverse winding roller 94.

The roller 94 is in continuous rotation and turns a winding-up bobbin 22 only when a winding-up bobbin is by means of slide 86 moved into engagement with the roller 94.

In order during a reverse winding to prevent that, m addition to the free thread ends, additional quantities of thread move into the area of the tying means or knotter 67, precaution is taken to hold excessive thread lengths outside the range of the tying means or knotter. To this end, below the roller 94 a space 121 is provided in the frame 48 which is covered by a catching screen 124 on the side of the suction conduit and which leads into a suction pipe 122.

When for the tying operation a sufliciently long thread has been unwound, and when the tying means or knotter 67 has grasped the thread ends to be tied, a non-illustrated suction blower becomes effective which draws air through the suction pipe 122 through which the additionally unwound thread length is held fast on the catching screen 124 and collects in loops so that the tying means or knotter 67 will not be affected thereby.

Closely above the screen 124 and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine, a thread slide 100 extends in a transverse direction through the suction conduit 49. The thread slide 100 is connected to the free end of the piston rod 101 which in turn is pneumatically and axially displaceable back and forth in the pressure cylinder or fluid motor 102. The thread slide 100 moves the tied thread out of the suction conduit 49 into the range of the thread guiding member 18 so that after completion of the tying operation the thread can again follow the prescribed balloon-shaped path around the protective pot 13.

The thread guiding member 18 is combined with the thread break detector 103 which in case of a thread break initiates the lifting off of the delivery bobbin 22 from the friction roller 21 and calls upon the tie carriage. The thread break detector 103 will in case of a thread break bring about a lighting up of a lamp 106 which is arranged below the spindle 4 within the lamp housing 104 which latter is located below the spindle rail 8. The lamp housing 104 has a light passage 105. When the tie carriage in view of the thread break detector 103 moves along the machine and passes that spindle at which, in view of a thread break, the lamp 106 has been caused to light up, the light beam of lamp 106 passes through the opening 105 and reaches a photoelectric cell within the housing 107 of the tie carriage. This photoelectric cell in' turn brings about a stoppage of the tie carriage at the respective station so that the tie carriage will be in operative position and can start its operation.

First the supporting frame 48 will move toward the spindle 4. This movement is brought about pneumatically by means of the piston 65 in the cylinder 64, the actuation of which is initiated by the valves a and b which communicate with the compressor 43 through a conduit 108 and to which the conduits 109 are connected and which lead into the pressure cylinder 64.

After the supporting frame 48 has moved toward the spindle 4, the pneumatically operative swinging rotator or rotor 82 becomes effective. This is controlled by the valves 0 and d which through conduits 110 communicate with the pneumatic rotor or rotator 82. The forward and backward movement of the slide 86 causes the supporting arm 26 of frame 23 and thereby the winding-up bobbin 22 to reach that swinging position in which it rests on the reversing rollers 94 for the reverse or return winding operation. Thereupon the broken thread end on the winding-up bobbin 22 is drawn in and, by means of the friction belts 69, the free end of the thread hanging out of the thread storage disc 11 is drawn into the suction conduit 49 up to the range of the tier 67 which effects the tying operation. When the tying operation has been completed, the piston rod 101 which is controlled by the valves e and f is together with the thread slide 100 pneumatically displaced in axial direction. Thus, the thread is by the thread slide 100 moved out of the conduit 49 through the slot 79 so that it will no longer be subjected to the suction effect in the conduit 49. At the same time, the supporting frame 48 which is controlled by the valves a and b is by means of the piston 65 in the pressure cylinder 64 returned to its full line position. The spindle brake is relieved and the magnet 81 moves away from the magnet of the whorl 5 so that the spindle rotor can again start its rotation without any impedement. Shortly thereafter, i.e., in a delayed manner, for avoiding an untwisted thread length, the winding-up bobbin 22 reaches its working position so that the twisting operation can again start while the thread will again circulate around the protective pot 13 in the form of a balloon.

When the tying operation has been completed, the tie carriage can again start moving and will move either to its rest position in which it will remain until it is again called upon or it may immediately move to the next operative position.

The control of the movements and the control of the various valves a-f is effected by means of a program control mechanism 111 with the motor 112 and the microswitches gk. Program control mechanisms of this type are well known so that a detailed description of the switches and the circuit thereof does not appear to be necessary.

It is also advantageous to insert guiding plates in the suction conduit 49 within the area of the suction opening 51 behind the gripping device with the friction belts 69, in order to assure that the thread end which passes from the thread storage disc 11 into the suction conduit 49 will occupy its proper position with regard to the tying means or knotter 67 so that the tying operation can be carried out by the tying means or knotter 67 in a proper manner. The guiding plates additionally serve for a corresponding feeding of the thread end from the delivery bobbin 22 into the area of the tying means or knotter 67.

The bearing housing 62 with the splined shaft 63 guided by means of balls in said housing 62, and the pressure cylinder 102 with the piston rod 101, and the pneumatic swinging rotator or rotor 82 represent customary pneumatic cylinder piston units, the control movements of which are effected in the customary manner by valves a in cooperation with microswitches g-k in order in this way to tune the individual operations or movements with regard to each other and to assure the proper sequence. Since in this respect customary connections and electric circuits are employed, a detailed illustration thereof appears to be superfluous.

Instead of guiding the tie carriage on rails 28 and 32,

also other guiding means may be employed, for instance, guiding means, which are independent of the machine but can be arranged in a precise manner relative thereto, so that the displacement stroked to the individual spindles are of even magnitude.

The tie carriage illustrated in FIG. 2 is substantially of the same design as that in FIG. 1 but differs somewhat therefrom inasmuch as it is intended for a special type of two-for-one twisting machines. More specifically, a twofor-one twisting machine is involved which is equipped with so-called bobbin turn changers or spool rotation changers. For a better understanding, the bobbin changer will be explained.

Similar to FIG. 1, also in FIG. 2 the machine supporting frame is designated with the reference numeral 1. Slides 116 are displaceable hydraulically or pneumatically in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the machine and are moved in the supporting frame 112. The free ends of the slides 116 carry bearing consoles 113 having rotatable columns 114 journalled therein. The columns 114 are each provided with a turning beam 115 in which at both sides of the columns 114 there are mounted spindles 4 the whorls 5 of which extend below the beam 115. On that side of the columns 114 which faces away from the operators side or servicing side, whorl 5 of the spindle 4 engages the tangential driving belt 6 which in its turn is caused to engage said whorl 5 by means of tensioning rollers 7. The rollers 7 are supported by an arm of a tubular longitudinal beam 117. By displacing the slide 116 toward the right, the consoles 113 can be moved away from the frame housing 112 so that also the whorl 5 is spaced from the tangential drive belt 6 whereby the drive of the belt is interrupted. The spindle 4 by means of its whorl 5 engages the tangential driving belt 6 and is henceforth designated as operating spindle, whereas the second spindle 4 reperesents a reserve spindle which occupies a position in which it is being prepared for the twisting operation.

When a thread break occurs on the operating spindle 4, the spindles 4 are turned by 180 so that the reserve spindles move into the operative position, whereas the operating spindles with the broken threads move to the preparing positions so that the thread break can be remedied.

The turning movement out of the operative position always requires a displacement of the slide 116 toward the outside by a distance which amounts to at least two spindle outer diameters. The tilting movement is followed by a reverse displacement by the same distance in order to reestablish the contact of the whorl 5 with the tangential drive belt 6. This turning or tilting also serves the purpose of replacing in a minimum of time an empty delivery bobbin by a full delivery bobbin inasmuch as directly by turning or swinging one spindle is replaced by another sprindle.

The column 114 additionally carries two thread guiding members 18 associated with the spindles 4 and also carries deviating rollers 118. One embodiment additionally comprises a running ahead roller 19, the transverse thread guide 20 and the friction roller 21. The bobbin frame 23 together with the supporting frame 123 for supporting the winding-up bobbins 22 extends over two spindles 4 and is swingable or turnable with the columns 114. The supporting arms 123 are upwardly swung about the linkage points 125 whereby it is possible to take into consideration the increasing diameter of the winding-up bobbin.

At the free end of the column 114 there are provided swingable feelers 126 which by means of the supporting means 127 are adjustable as to height as indicated by the scale 128 at the upper end of the column 114. The feelers 126 are contact feelers which respond when the winding-up bobbin has reached a certain diameter as indicated in FIG. 2. These feelers will at a desired diameter of the winding-up bobbin stop the spindle and the windingup operation. When the spindle stops, the turning beam with the spindles 4 and with the bobbin frame 23 begins to turn. After a turning by 180, the spindle 4 with winding-up bobbin pertaining thereto has reached the position normally taken up by the reserve spindle 4 so that in this position the withdrawal of the wound up delivery bobbin can be effected or, if a thread break was the cause for the stopping and turning, the thread end of the winding-up bobbin is tied to the thread end of the thread which hangs out of the thread storage disc 11 of spindle 4.

After this bobbin changing operation has been effected, the prepared reserve spindle with delivery bobbin and the respective winding-up bobbin pertaining thereto and located in the bobbin frame 23 is moved to that position in which the Winding-up bobbin 22 rests on the friction roller 21. When the winding-up bobbin 22 already has a certain diameter, it has to be subjected to an upward tilting movement when the winding-up bobbin 22 is turned about the column 114. To this end, the windingup bobbin 22 will come to rest on the inclined cover 129 of the running ahead roller 119 and the transverse thread guide 20, whereupon the bobbin 22 slides at an incline upwardly until in its end position it will rest on the friction roller 21 and will be driven thereby.

Within the range of the whorl 5 of the reserve spindle 4 there is also provided a tiltable lever 130 with handle 131 by means of which the pin 132 can in a nonillustrated manner be moved into engagement with beam 115 in order to prevent the same from rotating about the column 114 during the twisting operation. The tilting lever 130 may be actuated manually by means of the hand lever 131, but as a rule is automatically as a result of the transverse displacement of the machine element not illustrated and located in the slide 116, caused to move into and out of engagement shortly before the turning operation is to be effected, i.e., in the moved out condition of the slide 116. When the turning beam is turnable and laterally displaceable by 180, the pin 132 due to the force of the adjacent spring again engages the beam 115.

The tie carriage according to the invention creates the possibility of tying the thread end protruding from the thread storage disc 11 to the thread end of the windingup bobbin 22 when a thread break occurs on the spindle moved into its reserve position. Each time a thread break occurs, the thread break detector will by emitting a corresponding signal cause the rotating column 114 to move out with the console 113 by the slide 116 and to bring about a rotation of the column 114 with beam 115 by 180 so that the reserve spindle with winding-up bobbin 22 will move to its operative position whereas the spindle 4, the thread of which is broken, will together with the winding-up bobbin 22 be moved into the reserve position. The displacement operation of the slide 116 will electrically call upon the tie carriage which comes to a standstill in front of the respective spindle.

The establishment of contact for calling in the tie carriage is effected in the following manner and is illustrated in FIG. 5. Below the bearing console 113 and connected to the machine frame 1 is a switch housing 133 to which the arresting arm 134 is linked or pivotally connected. Furthermore, the switch housing 133 has pivotally connected thereto a lever 135 which is normally held in its vertical position. A switch 136 which is likewise connected to the switch housing 133 is held in its starting position by means of the arresting arm 134 and the lever 135 through the intervention of pressure springs 137 and 138. If for changing the operating spindle for the reserve spindle, the bearing console 113 is by means of the slide 116 displaced in the axial direction of the latter, the circular disc 119 of the bearing console 113 moves over the back of the arresting arm 134. As a result thereof, the arm 134 is against the thrust of pressure spring 137 pressed downwardly so that by means of the pin 139 which is resiliently supported in the switch 136, the circuit for actuating the tie carriage motor 34 is closed. At the same time a hook of the arresting arm 134 and a hook of the lever 135 engage each other whereby the arresting arm 134 is held in its horizontal position. This position is shown in FIG. in dot-dash lines. When the tie carriage reaches the now tilted spindle which is again in its operative position, the nose 140 of the lever 135 is by means of the cam 120 of the tie carriage tilted back against the pressure of spring 138. The arm 134 will by means of the pres sure spring 138 turn to its starting position, and the contact through pin 139 is interrupted whereby the driving motor 34 of the tie carriage is stopped instantly which means that the tie carriage stops. After completion of the tying operation, the switch 136 receives an impulse which closes the circuit for the driving motor 34 of the tie carriage so that the tie carriage can again return to its starting position.

In variation with respect to the tie carriage according to the embodiment of FIG. 1, the return winding device is designed for the winding-up bobbin 22 by means of which the broken thread end is conveyed to the suction conduit 49. As shown in FIG. 2, the supporting frame 48 is provided with a transverse beam 140 for supporting the pressure cylinder 102 below and above the support for the pressure cylinder 141 which at 142 is linked to the support 143 for the transverse beam 140. Arranged on the transverse beam 140 is a console 144 having linked thereto the swingable arm 145 at 146. Arm 145 is by means of arm 147 pivotally connected to the free end of piston rod 148, the piston of which is reciprocably arranged within the pressure cylinder 141. One end of the arm 145 carries the motor 149 with the driving sprocket wheel 150, the chain 151 of which circulate around the sprocket wheel 152 at the other end of the arm 145 which rests on the supporting frame 48. The shaft of the sprocket wheel 152 carries the reserve winding roller 153 which thus is driven by motor 149 through chain 151. When the supporting frame 48 of the tie carriage together with the units supported thereby is moved from the full line position according to FIG. 2 into the dash line position toward the reserve spindle 4, the roller 153 grasps below the winding-up bobbin 22 and drives the same in a reverse direction so that the free thread end is Wound off and is drawn into the suction conduit 49 in which it is conveyed to the tying means or knotter 67.

The design of the suction conduit 49 corresponds to that of FIG. 1, aside from the fact that a bellows 56 is omitted. Instead, directly behind the tying means or knotter 67 there is provided a screen 155. The tying operation is effected in the same manner as described in connection with FIG. 4. Similarly, a gripping device is provided behind the suction opening 51 of the suction conduit 49.

As will be evident from FIG. 2, the arm 145 is adapted to be swung hydraulically or pneumatically about the shaft 146. To this end, the piston in cylinder 141 is moved outwardly more or less whereby the arm 145 with the roller 153 is lifted more or less, namely to such an extent that independently of the diameter of the windingup bobbin 22, the reverse winding roller 153 engages said bobbin 22 and drives the latter in reverse direction. Additionally care may be taken that the reverse winding will stop at the instant at which the tying means or knotter 67 begins its action and has grasped the thread ends to be tied together. Furthermore, similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1, a catching screen 124 for the thread may be provided ahead of the suction chamber 141.

The suction end of the suction conduit 49 with the suction opening 52 is movable outwardly in a telescopic manner to assure that the suction opening will be located directly at the winding-up bobbin 22, independently of the diameter thereof. To this end, the telescopically movable conduit section 154 is arranged at the free end of the swingable arm 145 in such a way that the upward swinging of arm 145 results in pulling the conduit section 154 toward the winding-up bobbin 22, whereas when the swingable arm is swung downwardly, the upper end of the suction conduit will be shortened. The suction opening 52 is narrowed in a nozzle-like manner by the reverse winding roller 153 which extends into the suction opening 52 so that at this point the suction for the drawing in of the free thread end will be increased. When the tying operation has been completed, the supporting frame 48 moves away from the reserve spindle 4, and the tie carriage moves to its starting position or to the next operating position. The movement to the next operating position is, as mentioned above, effected fully automatically by an electric impulse. The tie carriage will stop at the station where the disturbance occurred and will do so either by actuation of a switch 136 according to FIG. 4 or by passing the lamp 106 according to FIG. 1 of the spindle where the thread break occurred. The said lamp actuates the photoelectric switch in the housing 107 which in its turn brings the tie carriage to a standstill.

As will be evident from the above, the thread break eliminating device according to the present invention will assure that the thread break eliminator will automatically be moved to the area of disturbance and while the supporting frame moves to the spindle, the winding-up bobbin will be brought into contact with a reverse winding roller whereupon both broken thread ends are conveyed to the tying means or knotter which ties these thread ends together and returns the tied thread to its operative position. Subsequently, the thread break eliminator returns to its starting position for movement to the next disturbed spindle or to return to its original position.

By employing a program control mechanism, the electric working operations and also the pneumatically or hydraulically effected movements can be controlled in precisely the required sequence without requiring an operator. The thread break eliminator thus will fully automatically take over operations which heretofore required considerable back and forth movements of the operator since frequently the thread breaks occur relatively far from each other. The thread break eliminator according to the present invention saves considerable work on the part of the operators who now can limit their operation to preparing operations and who will not be disturbed in carrying out such preparing operations by having to attend to thread breaks.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of operating a multispindle two-forone twisting machine having means for supporting rotating delivery bobbins and corresponding rotating delivery bobbins and corresponding rotating winding-up bobbins so as to effect automatic tying together of the thread ends when the thread breaks between the delivery bobbin and the winding-up bobbin which comprises; supporting a self-propelled tying means for movement longitudinally of the machine, detecting a thread break, halt ing the bobbins pertaining to the broken thread, moving the tying means into the range of the path of the broken thread, rotating the winding-up bobbin in the reverse direction to pay off a length of thread therefrom, drawing the thread ends into the tying means, tying the thread ends together in the tying means, restarting the bobbins pertaining to the tied together thread ends, and after a delay retracting the tying means from its operative position relative to the said bobbins.

2. The method according to claim 1, which includes drawing the thread ends into the tying means by suction.

3. In a multispindle two-for-one twisting machine having rotating delivery bobbins and corresponding rotating winding-up bobbins; a frame along which the spindles are distributed longitudinally, means for supporting the spindles for said delivery bobbins at a first level and means for supporting said corresponding winding-up bobbins at a second level so the thread extending between a respective pair of the bobbins moves in a generally vertical path, rail means on the frame extending longitudinally thereof, a tying carriage movably supported on said rail means and having a tying device thereon, means for moving said carriage on said rail means into operative alignment with any selected pair of said bobbins, a suction conduit on said tying device extending in the vertical direction from the region of one of said levels to the region of the other of said levels and having a first suction opening at said first level and a second suction opening at said second level and a vertical slot on the side toward said bobbins extending from one of said openings to the other thereof, roller means on said tying device engageable with said winding-up bobbin operable to drive the Winding-up bobbin in reverse direction to feed a length of thread therefrom, suction means on the carriage for developing suction on said conduit to draw the thread ends from said bobbins into said conduit via said openings, a knotter in said conduit operable to tie together the said drawn in thread ends, a thread break detector through which the thread passes in its movement between said bobbins operable upon the breaking of the thread to cause said carriage to move into a position of alignment with the pertaining pair of bobbins, means operable when said carriage is aligned with a pair of bobbins pertaining to a broken thread for moving said tying device on said carriage toward said bobbins for a tying operation and away from said bobbins at the end of a tying operation, and means for ejecting a tied thread from said conduit and into engagement with the pertaining break detector, said delivery bobbin and then said winding up bobbin commencing to rotate after said tying device moves away from said bobbins after a tying operation.

4. A machine according to claim 3, which includes brake means operable for halting the spindle for said delivery bobbin in a rotated position in which the broken thread end is presented to said first opening, and means for making said brake means effective when said tying device moves toward the respective spindle and ineffective when said tying device moves away from the respective spindle.

5. A machine according to claim 3, which includes slide means supporting said tying device on said carriage for movement thereon toward and away from said bobbins and motor means connected between said carriage and tying device for moving the tying device on the carriage.

6. A machine according to claim 3, includes telescopically engaged conduit means on said carriage and tying device connecting said suction conduits with said suction means while permitting movement of the tying device on said carriage, and means pertaining to said conduit means for interrupting the suction to said suction conduit when said tying device moves away for said bobbins.

7. A machine according to claim 3, which includes a fiber catching screen on the suction side of said suction means, and a chamber communicating with the upstream side of said screen for receiving fibers caught by the screen.

8. A machine according to claim 3, which includes thread gripping and feeding means at said first opening for engaging the thread end of said delivery bobbin and for feeding the said thread end into said suction conduit for engagement by said knotter.

9. A machine according to claim 8, in which said thread gripping and feeding means comprises a pair of thread gripping bodies on opposite sides of said first opening, and means for moving said bodies relatively to grip a thread therebetween.

10. A machine according to claim 8, in which said thread gripping and feeding means includes a pair of spaced rollers on each side of said first opening, a belt entrained about each pair of rollers, a swingable arm supporting each pair of rollers, and means for swinging said arms in unison to bring said belts into face to face relation and at least to space said belts from each other.

11. A machine according to claim 3, which includes moveable support means supporting said winding-up bobbin and swingable for movement of said winding-up bobbin from winding-up position into tying position, and moving means on said tying device engageable with said moveable support means and operable to move said support means between the two said positions thereof.

12. A machine according to claim 11, in which said moveable supporting means has a stud thereon, said moving means comprising a lever moveable bodily on said tying device, a motor on the tying device connected to said lever for effecting the bodily movement thereof, and a hook portion on the lever engageable with said stud.

13. A machine according to claim 12, which includes a pair of parallel arms pivotally mounted on said tying device, said arms being pivotally connected to said lever for causing bodily movement thereof in parallelism with itself.

14. A machine according to claim 3, which includes a swingable arm on said tying device and means for swinging said arm on said tying device, one end of said arm being disposed at the end of said suction conduit embodying said second opening, a conduit section on said one end of said arm engaging said suction conduit so as to maintain the continuity of said suction conduit during swinging movement of said arm, said roller means being rotatably mounted on said one end of said arm and forming said second opening with the adjacent end of said suction conduit.

15. A machine according to claim 3, which includes a screened opening in said suction chamber between said second opening and said knotter, a chamber behind the screened opening, and a suction connection to the chamber whereby the length of thread fed into said suction conduit through said second opening in excess of that needed for a tying operation will collect on the screen of sa d opening.

16. A machine according to claim 3, which includes a program control mechanism on said carriage and operable to control the operations carried out during a thread tying operation. I

17. A machine according to claim 16, in which said program control mechanism includes means to initiate the movement of said tying device away from said bobbins and means to start said delivery bobbin and means to start said winding-up bobbin a predetermined time after the delivery bobbin is started.

18. A machine according to claim 3, which includes means to initiate movement of said tying device and means to start said delivery bobbins and means to start said wind-up bobbins, a signal lamp on the frame for each pair of bobbins, said signal lamp becoming illuminated upon the respective break detector detecting a break in the thread leading between the pertaining bobbins, a photocell on the said carriage which aligns with and is illuminated by said lamp when the carriage is aligned with the respective pair of bobbins, a drive motor on said carriage energizable for driving the carriage along its supporting rails, said drive motor being energized upon a break detector detecting a break and being deenergized upon said photocell becoming illuminated by said lamp.

19. A machine according to claim 3, which includes mechanical stop means for halting said carriage in alignment with a pair of bobbins between which the thread is broken.

20. A machine according to claim 3, which includes means for moving the spindle of a respective delivery bobbin upon breaking of the thread pertaining thereto, a control switch closed by said movement of the spindle, a catch operable to hold the control switch in its closed position, said control switch when closed causing movement of said carriage along the supporting rails therefor, and a cam on said carriage operable to release said latch to open said control switch and halt said carriage when the carriage is aligned with the pertaining bobbin.

21. A machine according to claim 3, in which said means for ejecting the tied thread is a member reciprocably mounted on said tying device.

22. A machine according to claim 21, which includes means to initiate movement of said tying device and means to start said delivery bobbins and means to start said wind-up bobbins and in which said reciprocable member is a slide element located at about the level of said break detector so as to insert the tied thread into said detector when actuated, and a motor on said tying device for actuating said slide element after said knotter ties the ends of a broken thread together.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS WERNER H. SCHROEDER, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

